I have a 2010 31 hp GT (no reverse). Currently in the process of rebuilding the gears/seals on the LU (straight aluminum tube) after 30+ hours on it. I bought a kit directly from GT after trying to outsourse the parts locally. You can get them, but no-one in SWLA/SETX carries them. They have to be ordered.

After putting everything back together, I was replacing grease in the tube and the front seal blew (probly my inept mechanical skills) but it got me thinking that the grease zirt location is just slightly inside of the front bearing, almost right on top, and thus has to be putting alot of pressure on those components when adding grease, because it has to be pushed all the way to the rear seals. The more grease you push back, the higher the pressure climbs.My question is....has anyone ever relocated the grease zirt on this model LU, and if so, how far down did you move it? What size zirt did you install and what thread tap did you use?

BTW.....I have 2 new front seals ( National #473259 ) on order thru O'Reilly's @ $7.00 /ea. Hope to have 1 installed by Monday afternoon.

Ok.....this thread has had 53 reads at this point and no responses, so I'm assuming no-one has ever given this idea any thought. At this point I (and someone else on this site) am seriously considering doing some mods to our LU's to relocate the zert to midway down the tube and also adding a vent screw at the front bearing.

Our thought is that this will allow grease to flow in both directions inside the housing, thus ensuring fresh grease to both ends without adding un-necessary back pressure on the front seal.

The gt manual says to pull the plug out of the back till new grease comes out... A lot of ppl don't understand the design of a seal probably 75 % of seals on seal one way and it it put to keep the grease in any kind of pressure will blow it out

When the seal blew, I had ran the motor with the LU engaged for about 5 minutes, pulled the vent screw from in front of the prop and then started replacing the grease. It was the first time the grease was being swapped since putting the unit on (Approximately 15 hours). At about the third pump on the gun, you could hear the grease squirting past the seal. That's why I believe the zirt is too close the the front bearing. Another member here (I won't say who) has had the same thing happen with a new LU with only 4 hours on it, and I KNOW he knows what he's doing. Surely we're not the only two GT operators that have had this happen.

if u don't pull the Phillip's head screw by the prop when u pump grease u will blow it out the seal!

Even if you pull it, the seal will blow.

That's the whole point of this thread.

So can you not drill and tap a new one into the middle and use the two outside ones for vents/bleed-outs to make sure its full? It's not going to cause the l/u any harm and will probably help it due to making sure the grease is evenly spread and you don't have as much pressure on that front seal. Just use the same size zert as the one by the front bearings. This is how we did it on my buddies old beavertail that did the same thing you are mentioning and he's never had a moments trouble with any seal since then and that was a few years back now.

I never blew one and have about 700hrs between old and new lower.

I'm glad you havent. That doesn't exactly help cm or myself though. In following gt's instructions, I blew that front seal. I'm not as good with a grease gun as yall are apparently. Didn't think it was rocket science.

Thanks for stepping in Dan. Didn't want to mention you by name earlier, but it seems no-one believes I pulled the vent screw before trying to add grease. Maybe they''ll listen to a seasoned MM operator. Jeeese.

Lol, I appreciate when msm tries to help. That particular post just wasn't helpful. Sorry msm.

Is the grease coming between the seal and shaft or did it push the seal out of the housing

IDK what yall are doing wrong.. I have NEVER blown a front seal. My last few rebuilds I have been packing bearings and front cavity dull of grease on assembly. Then after I prepare the rear housing with new seals, bearing, and wear sleeve I set it aside. I put the shaft in place as far forward as it can go, then get front wear sleeve in place, and lock down taper lock against the sleeve. Then that secures the shaft in the housing. I then pump the housing full of grease without the rear housing on at all. When I get to see grease pushing past the threads of the housing bore, I then thread the bearing assembly onto the shaft housing and then finish purging the grease via bleed screw. As mentioned all bearings are pre packed with grease. I fins this helps me get the housing full of grease the first time.

Another tip is to pump the grease gun with your left hand. Reason being is your right arm might be too strong from extracurricular activities.

Ambidextrous.

Im about to fix the seals in my lower cause both front and rear are leaking after about 215 hrs and ive pulled the screw everytime Ive greased it I don't understand what I did wrong now if others have had 700 hrs and no leaks ive done everything like gatortail says as far as maintainance so maybe it is the fitting so close to the front seal idk

Nah. It's your failure. Stop blaming the design. It's flawless.

And if you post here, I'll heckle...

Now, now Dan. Play nice.

Lol

Don't thank me....thank Max. His method.....just paying it forward

*heckleheckleheckle* definitely don't thank cm. He's just a hater with a short stroke.

The grease is gonna go past the seal if any pressure at all if the seal is put in a certain way that way it will keep water and dirt out of the lu

You aren't understanding the problem. It's the front seal, not exposed to water. Not the one by the prop. Its job is to contain the grease within the shaft. If it blows out, the grease won't remain on that front bearing, and it'll overheat and die.

Well guess what!! Servicing my motor today (new air filter, changed oil, grease in LU, fresh anti-seaze on prop nut) and after I got done I pulled the clutch cover and found fresh grease in the bottom of the belt housing. Frigging front seal has blown again! I've got an new one on hand to change it out, but damn I'm getting tired of this crap. This set of bearings/seals has less than 30 hrs on them.....and YES, I PULLED THE VENT SCREW!!!..

How much grease Mike?

Update..... sent my LU to GT after talking to Hoyt. Seems mine and Dan's LU's are actually 3rd Generation, not 2nd. The difference is different bearings and wear sleeves. However, when our units were assembled, the 2nd generation wear sleeve on the front was installed. The difference is material thickness and the 3rd gen being just slightly larger. The smaller sleeve wasn't closing the gap enough between itself and the seal gasket, allowing the rubber to invert, and causing the seal to blow. They have rebuilt the unit and it's on it's way home, along with a replacement wear sleeve and front seal for Dan's.

Shipped it Friday, they got it Monday and I should have it back by week's end at no charge.